The ‘Pass it On’ project, which took place at the start of this month, encouraged exchange students leaving in December to donate essential items that could be useful to incoming students in the New Year. These items, ranging from pots and pans to laundry baskets and clothing, were collected and then offered free to the newly arrived exchange students who started with us in January. Here, Ayaka takes us through her experience of bringing the fabulous ‘Pass it On’ project to life.
I am feeling proud of myself for achieving this event. I cannot help appreciating everyone who helped to organise this event, donated the stuff, and the new students that collected the items. This event was a success thanks to everyone, and I hope this event itself will take over in the next term as well as in the future.
Because I am also an exchange student, I thought it was wasteful to just throw away items that we only used for one or two terms.
Why did you want to do this?
I came up with this event idea when I realised that some of my friends who study here as exchange students would leave soon and talked about the stuff they do not need anymore. Because I am also an exchange student, I thought it was wasteful to just throw away items that we only used for one or two terms. Moreover, I spent three nights without a duvet when I arrived here for the first time because I didn’t even know where to buy it, and what to do first. Therefore, I did not want new students to feel the same way because it is much colder than the Autumn term and fewer students are coming in this term. After I attended the sustainability lecture in the GOLD programme, I decided to make something new that could solve these problems as a Global Officer.
Some new exchange students told me that it was helpful to get free second-hand stuff because they will only stay here for a few terms and don’t want to spend money on something that they cannot bring back to their home countries
How did the event go?
The aim of this event was to match the demand and supply of items, such as how leaving students have unwanted stuff and how much incoming students need second-hand stuff. Because I didn’t know how many students would participate in this event, I was anxious at first. However, thanks to a promotion in a group chat and sending emails to exchange students, more students attended this event than I expected, which motivated me to stay energetic and take action. Many friends who left Kent last year told me that this event is the best way to be sustainable and support other exchange students, and some new exchange students told me that it was helpful to get free second-hand stuff because they will only stay here for a few terms and don’t want to spend money on something that they cannot bring back to their home countries. Reflecting on those comments, I would love to hold this event again for students leaving in April and June. I hope this event will take over and continue in the future from this great opportunity.
Following the success of this event, look out for a call for donations if you plan to leave in April and do not wish to take back unwanted things.